Combine tables while excluding duplicate entries?

[Guest]

Microsoft Access 2002:

I have two similarly structured tables which I would like to combine, while
excluding duplicate records. I would like to control the criteria by which a
duplicate record is deemed such (using multiple fields for duplicate
searching, rather than just one), and, if possible, be able to review and
make changes to the records selected for (or excluded from) the table merger
before the final combination takes place.

I would think that Access would have this functionality built in, as I know
other database applications do. If it already exists, can someone point me
toward how to do it?

 

[Guest]

I feel that I have found HALF the solution to my problem: I have discovered
that I can create a UniqueID Key built from several combined fields of a
record. Doing so would prevent any duplicate records from being
incorporated.

Part 2 of my problem still exists: If a record to be imported already
exists in the original table, I want to be able to UPDATE/REPLACE the
original record with the imported one. In some cases it will be beneficial
to update certain fields and leave other alone. Can such flexibility be
achieved with Access without complex coding?

 

[John Vinson]

In some cases it will be beneficial
to update certain fields and leave other alone. Can such flexibility be
achieved with Access without complex coding?

I can't see how - Access has no way of reading your mind and
deternining which fields should be updated and which left alone!
Unless you have some explicit criteria which distinguish which records
are which then no; if you do have such criteria, then probably a
series of Update and Append queries will be needed for the different
subsets.

John W. Vinson[MVP]